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Now pretend you’re a person going about your day, and you suddenly get a bunch of texts from a friend who’s freaking out about something they’re dealing with right now. Let’s say that in this moment, you yourself are also dealing with a lot of stress over something in your own life. How do you respond? “Asking for consent for emotional labor, even from people with whom you have a long-standing relationship that is welcoming to crisis-averting, should be common practice,” Fabello writes later in the thread....

Research shows2 that eating sugar is a physiologically adaptive behavior that provides the energy needed to stay awake. The problem with this? Sugar’s initial energy boost is short-lived, making you seek out more. These well-balanced meals and snacks are much better for sustained energy. Humans under stress react the same way—by reaching for something sweet to feel relief (albeit short). The problem with this is that eating sugar too frequently can create a habit, which stress then ingrains as a behavior....

Then I discovered I was invisible to myself, and that others were simply treating me the way I was treating myself. Here are four ways I started to see myself again—and got others to see me too. Are you focused on being nice to others rather than being loving towards yourself? There’s nothing wrong with being a nice person, of course—except when your niceness has an agenda attached. If you’re trying to gain other people’s approval by being nice, then your niceness is a form of control, and will likely backfire....

Think of it as a release valve for your soul. I like to stretch my hands out when I say it, like I am surrendering to the stress. It can also be powerful to imagine all the strain and tension that has led up to your woooosaaaaahhhh release escaping through the top of your head, like the fizzy sound a bottle of soda makes when you open it…aaahhhhh.

The key to nourishing your stomach in the right way is actually simple: You have to avoid foods that your system biochemically protests. Each of us is slightly different, but there are many foods that can lead to belly bloat for almost all of us. Just eliminating these can make a big difference in how your stomach looks and feels. Here are the foods to avoid: To experience the benefits of chia seeds without the negative side effects, you have to prepare the seeds properly....

“Parenting can be particularly challenging for introverts because we lose so much of the alone time we had before our children were born,” Carla Naumburg, Ph.D., a Massachusetts-based clinical social worker and author of the forthcoming How To Stop Losing Your Sh*t With Your Kids, tells mbg. “The free time we once may have used to go for a walk alone or read a book or just sit and stare at the wall is now taken up by these little people who, as much as we love them, can be tremendously demanding, both emotionally and physically....

In a lot of ways, organization and sustainability go hand in hand. Editing out unnecessary items and clearing out clutter naturally tends to decrease your carbon footprint. But why stop there? By leaning on The Container Store for sustainable organizing solutions and cleaning products (psst—they have over 1,600 of them), it’s easy to up your sustainability game around your entire home. Keep reading for more ideas on eco-friendly organizing. The Container Store’s Blueland collection consists of cleaning supplies made with sustainability in mind—and no harmful ingredients....

Pregnancy can bring about complications in an otherwise healthy individual. Many women free of any diseases before pregnancy may face pregnancy-induced ailments. Examples of these are hyperemesis gravidarum (severe morning sickness), gestational diabetes, pregnancy-induced hypertension, or cholestasis (a liver condition that triggers itchiness). Even under the best of circumstances, the body naturally goes through a massive, undeniable change during pregnancy. That being said, most women tend to lack the support needed to honor themselves during pregnancy to create these best circumstances in the first place, so support during pregnancy is crucial for every woman....

The same thing can happen with eating plans, including the ketogenic diet. The keto diet restricts carbs to around 50 grams or fewer, so your body relies on fat as a main source of fuel. Then there’s you. You’ve faithfully committed to a keto diet for a month or two now. You’ve kept a food journal to track what you eat and your overall progress. You dutifully request sliced avocado and other keto-friendly foods while your friends order the chili cheese fries....

Although, there are quite a lot of herbs out there, and it can be difficult to know what, exactly, to keep in your herbal arsenal. Not to worry: Below, Rawls offers five of his all-time favorite herbs to have handy. You might be surprised by a few of these underrated players: Meaning: Rhodiola is really good at protecting itself from physical stressors (like brutal winds), “and it’s really great for protecting us against physical stress factors,” Rawls notes....

If you’re among those who shave, keeping your skin feeling smooth, silky, and irritation-free has a lot to do with your shaving technique and how you take care of your razor, according to dermatologist Jennifer L. MacGregor, M.D. Here, how to shave a little healthier, every time: This is why Billie’s subscription razor service is about to become your new bff. For as little as $9, the brand will deliver their award-winning razor (starting with two replacement cartridges) and four replacement cartridges thereafter in ongoing shipments once a month, or every two or three months depending on how often you shave....

Hydrafacials are noninvasive, and they’re gentle enough for most sensitive and acne-prone skin types to handle. Although, “it’s best not to use on any active, open acne,” says board-certified dermatologist Ava Shamban, M.D., founder of SKINFIVE. “This is often best for a patient with very dehydrated, dull, flaking, or otherwise tired, sallow skin that needs a deeper clean and overall replenishing refresh,” she adds. For example: “Red light supports healthy elasticity in the skin, which plumps and firms, helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles,” says celebrity esthetician Shani Darden....

These days, reusable paper towels are most often made from cellulose (wood pulp), cotton, or bamboo. These materials need to be grown or extracted from the environment, just like paper does to make paper towels. However, fewer raw materials go into reusable products, meaning they’re often more sustainable from a production standpoint. Some reusable paper towels can also be composted after use, another environmental benefit. Once you invest in a pack, commit to trying them out for at least a week using the following tips and see if you can make it work: If You Care Reusable Paper Towels ($11....

“Hm, I thought, they look good to me!” Here are the seven things you need to know: Backbends shake you out of your comfort zone. If we stop and think about it most (if not all) of our daily movements are limited to moving forward. Rarely do we spend time defying gravity by moving upside-down, backward or sideways. It just feels natural to bend forward. It’s also the obvious thing to do when picking something off the floor....

Let’s say you weren’t born with an innate abundance of optimism, or perhaps life’s challenges have tamped down some of your enthusiasm … then what? Here are a few ways to help guide yourself in a more optimistic direction. Try adding one or two and keep adding new skills to your repertoire over time. As your experience with and capacity for optimism grows, you’ll be on your way to becoming that healthier, upbeat person you wish to be....

If you’re a coffee lover, chances are you’re not interested in parting with this morning ritual. But if you have a delicate stomach, you might find yourself in a love-hate relationship with this popular brew. For people with gut conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, or ulcerative colitis, coffee’s acidity may be particularly problematic, causing flare-ups and unpleasant symptoms such as cramping and diarrhea. For most generally healthy people, though, there are simple ways to make your morning coffee much more gut-friendly, thereby minimizing these uncomfortable issues....

Maybe you’re tempted to reach for a bottled energy drink or go on another coffee run. But instead of putting a bandage on your persistent fatigue issues, remedy the problem once and for all. Avoid sugary and processed foods, as these treats provide you with only short bursts of energy. For sustained energy throughout the day, research shows you should fill your diet with whole grains and proteins. Both of these foods take longer for your body to break down....

Climate change presents a complex challenge, but it’s one we can all approach with a healthy dose of optimism. The environmental movement reached some seriously impressive milestones in 2015—here are a few I was especially grateful to see as mbg’s green editor. To learn more about how you can cut down on your plastic use, read about this woman’s awesome plastic-free journey. Shoppers can now check in on their favorite brands with resources like Good On You, a site that compiles information on the transparency, labor conditions, and business models of popular retailers....

But if you live in an apartment with downstairs neighbors, they may not be too enthused by your energetic squat jumps overhead. Fortunately, there are ways to get the same boost from your workouts, without having to jump or create too much noise for the neighbors. That said, you can perform the above workout three times per week and alternate with a light version of cardio (perhaps an afternoon walk), pilates, or yoga....